What Are Reels and How to Make Reels in Instagram

Reels are short vertical videos in Instagram of up to 90 seconds, shown not only to your followers but also in the general Explore feed. To make a Reel, open the Instagram camera, choose the "Reels" mode, record or upload a video, add music and text, then publish. Right now this format delivers the highest organic reach.

What are Reels in Instagram in simple terms

Reels are a separate format of short vertical clips inside Instagram, created as the platform's answer to the popularity of TikTok. The key difference from a regular post and from Stories is that a Reel lives for a long time and is actively distributed by the algorithm to new people who don't follow you yet. That is exactly why a single strong clip can gather dozens of times more views than your usual photo. The format is vertical (9:16 ratio), backed by music or original audio, and supports text, stickers, effects and transitions. Reels are pinned in a dedicated profile tab and land in the Explore section. In our experience, for new and small accounts Reels remain the most accessible way to reach a wide audience for free, with no advertising budget.

How to make Reels in Instagram step by step

Making your first clip is easier than it looks — the whole process takes a couple of minutes right inside the app. Follow these steps:

1. Open Instagram and swipe right or tap the "+" at the top.
2. At the bottom of the screen choose the Reels tab.
3. Record a video by holding the record button, or tap the gallery on the left to upload ready-made clips.
4. Join several fragments together — that makes the clip more dynamic.
5. Tap the music icon and pick a track from the Instagram library.
6. Add text, stickers and effects to hold attention in the first seconds.
7. Tap "Next", write a caption with 3–5 hashtags and choose a cover.
8. Tap "Share" — your clip is published.

Tip: film in daylight near a window and hold your phone vertically — that instantly raises the quality of the picture.

How long should a Reel be and what formats exist

The length of a Reel directly affects reach and retention. Instagram allows clips from 15 to 90 seconds, but what matters more to the algorithm is not the length itself but the completion rate. Short, energetic clips are more often rewatched in full, and that is the main signal for the system to "show it wider". Below is a practical cheat sheet of formats and their goals, so you immediately know what to film for a specific objective.

In practice we tested this: clips shorter than 20 seconds with a strong opening frame almost always beat longer ones on reach, if you don't already have a loyal audience.

How to add music and text to a Reel

Music is half the success of a clip, because a trending sound on its own raises your chance of landing in recommendations. While recording, tap the note icon at the top and open the "For you" tab — it collects tracks that are trending right now (they are marked with an arrow). Pick a suitable fragment and move the slider to the right moment. To overlay text, tap "Aa", type your words, and set the appearance timing using the timeline at the bottom — that way captions stay in sync with the music and the action. For business accounts the music library is sometimes reduced due to licensing, so use original audio or the sound from the "For business" tab. A good trick is to add a large question-text in the first second: it makes the viewer watch the clip through to the answer.

How to make your Reels get views

The views on a Reel depend on how quickly you capture attention and hold it. The algorithm weighs completion, rewatches, saves, shares to DMs and comments. To push a clip, stick to a few simple rules:

• A strong opening frame and hook-text in the first 1–2 seconds.
• A trending sound instead of random music.
• Clear value or emotion — the viewer needs a reason to keep watching.
• A call to action: "save this", "send it to a friend".
• Posting during your audience's active hours.

If the account is brand new and reach is slow to start, smart Instagram account promotion helps speed up those first touches: a live start of activity signals to the algorithm that the content is interesting, so the clip more often reaches recommendations. Separately, we advise planning your profile design in advance — your business card decides whether a viewer follows you after watching a Reel. Our guide on how to set up an Instagram page will help you sort this out.

How Reels differ from Stories and a regular post

Many people confuse the formats, and that's a mistake — each has its own role. Stories live for 24 hours and work on a "warm" audience that already follows you. A regular post (photo or carousel) stays in the feed but is barely distributed to new people. Reels, on the other hand, are the only format built for viral reach and attracting an unfamiliar audience. The right strategy is to combine everything: Reels bring in new viewers, Stories warm them up and keep them, and posts build trust and expertise. By the way, Stories also thrive on regularity and interaction: if you're short on daily topics, take a look at our collection of Instagram Stories ideas with questions — they boost engagement nicely and work in tandem with Reels.

Common beginner mistakes when filming Reels

Understanding typical mistakes saves you weeks of trial and error. Here's what most often kills reach for beginners:

• Horizontal filming — the clip gets cropped and looks unprofessional.
• An intro that's too long — the viewer leaves before the point.
• Uploading video with a TikTok watermark — Instagram suppresses such clips.
• No sound, or silence instead of a trending track.
• Posting once a month — the algorithm loves regularity, at least 3–4 clips a week.

Fixing even half of this list, many creators see their views grow as early as the second or third week.

Want your clips to reach recommendations faster and bring in followers? The SMM Hub team can help with Instagram account growth — from the first reach to steady, stable activity.

Frequently asked questions

What is the maximum length of a Reel in 2026?

The maximum clip length is 90 seconds when recording inside Instagram. When uploading from the gallery you can use longer videos, but the system will trim them to 90 seconds.

Why do my Reels get few views?

Most often the reason is a weak opening frame, no trending sound, irregular posting or a TikTok watermark on the video. Start with these points.

Do I need a separate camera to film Reels?

No. A smartphone and daylight near a window are enough. The idea, the editing and a strong opening frame matter far more than expensive gear.

Can I add music to a Reel for a business account?

Yes, but the library for business accounts is trimmed due to licensing. Use the "For business" music tab or original audio to avoid restrictions.